Workgroup Manager - machines not picking up preferences

Question

Level 3

760 points

Workgroup Manager - machines not picking up preferences

Hello

i have created my computer groups in Workgroup Manager and added the client machines to the correct groups and set preferences.

The issue is that none of the machines are picking up the preferences, i have added the machines by their mac address.

Is there any way i can force the prefernces through similar to gpupdate on a windows server.

Thanks

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Sep 15, 2009 1:32 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Sep 15, 2009 1:56 AM in response to Donkeymusic

Hi

Have you actually joined the mac clients to the Domain by configuring the LDAPv3 Plug-in using Directory Utility.

It's always a good idea to restart the clients afterwards

Tony

Reply

Answer 2

Donkeymusic Author

Level 3

760 points

Sep 15, 2009 2:34 AM in response to Antonio Rocco

yes they are all connected find and have been restarted.

i have another group that was set up previously and the preferences are all working correct, its just the new groups

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 15, 2009 2:37 PM in response to Donkeymusic

To answer your last question, 10.6 now has a mcxrefresh command. But I'm not sure that'll really help here. See man mcxrefresh for more info on that.

As far as your clients not picking up MCX prefs, look in System Profiler: Managed Client while a user is still logged in to see what the managed preference settings are and where they're coming from.

Reply

Answer 4

Sep 15, 2009 10:29 PM in response to Donkeymusic

for snow leopard machines, i'd stick with the mcxrefresh command, but for older clients...

You can "force" the machines to check for preferences again by removing the contents of /Library/Managed Preferences like this:

sudo rm -Rf /Library/Managed\ Preferences/*
sudo killall -HUP DirectoryService
mcxquery -computer computershortname or mcxquery -computer MACAddress

i'd only recommend using this to troubleshoot as it's really supposed to happen automatically.

there's also a lot of options available that could be helpful in dscl -mcxhelp

Reply

Answer 5

Donkeymusic Author

Level 3

760 points

Sep 16, 2009 2:26 AM in response to hondamusprime

Morning, managed to sort the problem as to why they were not getting the managed preferences.

i had been adding machines via the plus sign rather than the dotted line so in effect i was creating a duplicate machine from one already added as a result they didnt get the managed preferences. once i sussed out the dotted line added the machines i have been able to successfully control the macs.

thanks for you help

Reply

Answer 6

Oct 6, 2009 4:15 PM in response to Donkeymusic

Hi DonkeyMusic
I had a question I am using Workgroup Manager on 10.5.6 as well; However I do not understand what dotted line you are speaking of. Could you possibly post a screen shot?
In addition, are you using Bind or Authenticated/Secure Bind?

Cheers
Yev

Reply